Getting over minimalist millennial/capsule/depression era
I'm rethinking the direction of my wardrobe. Currently it's a lot of muted colours, solid colour clothing, no accessories, with most things matching most others. It worked well for when I didn't have the energy to put into my appearance but now I don't want to just blend into the background at all times.
For those with a bigger wardrobe do you have sets in mind that go together? Like 5-6 outfits in one group 5-6 in another that might clash if mixed? Or do you stick to a cohesive overall style? I could see having one style for athletic/gym wear, another for daily/work outfits, a few flashy party and event looks.
Any advice on accessories, such as necklaces, bracelets, watches. I wear glasses too. I live in Canada so scarves, hats, gloves also welcome as winter is looming. I'd like to get a steel bracelet watch soon so any ideas of how to style one are welcome.
18 Replies
Hi @metalfabs! For better answers, include:
- Reference pictures
- Budget in numbers
- Specific measurements
- Openness to buying secondhand and/or online
- Location: country/continent is fine
- Timing/urgency
honestly it's less organized than that for me. usually I will be interested in a piece because it tickles my brain in some specific way, for whatever reason that's usually individual for that specific garment. then I consider what in my wardrobe I could imagine wearing it with, and if I can come up with at least a couple ideas, and if I really like the thing, I'll often cop it off that alone
and then afterwards, I personally like to make an intentional point to see what all from my wardrobe I can mix together to make interesting stuff, ignoring the "ideas" I had for the garment when I got it.
but partially this is enabled for me because I don't really attempt to make my athletic/gym clothes very stylish, and I wear the same clothes at work that I do at home or out socializing.
for better suggestions on accessories, it'd really help to have general visual ideas of what you're interested in. going through the #waywt and #waywt-highlights and of course #👕🗡-round-of-16 to pull out pics that accessorize in a way that appeals to you would help a lot.
pretty much in any situation I'd be wearing casual to business-casual, usually same outfits for work and socializing. Rarely anything like a wedding where I'd wear something more formal. For the gym/sports it's function first for me (and old t-shirts devolving into gym wear).
I like this approach. Get a piece or 2 at a time because they look nice on their own. Then I'd be forced to figure out how to make them work and that can break me out of the rut.
I do feel the need to add in that it's worth kinda incremental reaching that spot, as if you're branching out it might take a few times to find your footing. ya know don't all in on some expensive clothes that you end up hating. but for sure kinda explore a bit and see what speaks to you, and if something does, see what you can do with it.
For sure, until I know what I like I'd be buying a lot of secondhand and cheap stuff. Avoiding fast fashion for the most part.
I think I'm with joan where I don't have it delineated by sets of outfits but items can stand out more or less depending on the rest of the fit. My velvet loafers work pretty seamlessly with my tuxedo, but stand out a lot more in other outfits.
Plenty of folks wear the exact shoes in more casual outfits to great success (not me in the pic)
i'm similar to joan and beans - i have a mix of basic/traditional clothes and really out there ones and wear some combination thereof depending on the day or event. for really conservative spaces I'll push the envelope less with the combination of items, and for really creative moments I'll push it far more, but i generally don't segment my wardrobe.
i kinda feel the mindset ur in rn.
in the 2010s i was only wearing black and was generally uncomfy transitioning into colors and patterns because I thought it would demand more thinking and planning
But really it hasn't. I just buy things I think are cool and I don't buy frequently, which means im always exploring new ways to combine stuff together. I have sets I like to wear, but i only found those thru trial and error.
Im coming at this from a place a lil different from beans zeo and joan, stylistically, but everything theyve said resonates with me.
to get a lil visual, 3 combos with at least 1 item overlapping the other fits. I didn't buy any of the individual items planning to wear them with each other, it just happened.
honestly similar to how i was in the past
it helps to take stock of your life and see what you actually need. I used to be obsessed with minimalism to the point where i was impeding my quality of life, and it helped to acknowledge that owning something was a greater benefit than doing without ex boots
man, we need a minimalism/capsule wardrobe rehab thread to point people at who are wanting to get into it
absolutely agree with all thats been said, i never think of outfits as a concrete part of my wardrobe, i just buy clothes that i think look cool and my judgement is usually good enough that the item slots in to my wardrobe in a workable way. sometimes it doesnt and i can get creative reflective. i imagine with your more grounded desires this method will be very easy and productive for you
and if i ever did buy outfits rather than pieces, it was when i dressed like dogshit
Honestly you have a good baseline. Just start looking at second hand stuff in-person or online. Like most people here we don't have set outfits per say. Sure we gravitate to certain outfits more. But we just know from trial and error what works in making a good fit.
Boring equivalent of always following the same recipes versus vaguely knowing how to spice up a basic recipes by modifying them.
it's also worth defining when and how much you want to stand out - not every fit has to be the greatest thing of all time, just whatever you feel good wearing
It was the same situation for me in 2010s but solid earth tones as well as black. Maybe some plaid
and like i totally have safe combos i put on now. this has become my most comfy fit and ig ultimately it's boots sweater jeans but i still get hella compliments
its a Sickness but you are healing.....
A big part of it is trusting your own taste tbh
what Carrion said - in all my time on this sub i have not seen many fashion beginners/plateauers with incongruent visions. They have existed but usually the mental representation of the vibes are ok its just execution issues or some help going the extra step with details
thanks y'all. Summer 2026 is gonna be my leopard print, patchwork quilt, madras, colour block era